Election Commission Rolls Out Voter List Overhaul in 12 States: 51 Crore Electors to Get Fresh Verification Ahead of Crucial Polls

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 27, 2025, kicked off the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and six Union Territories, impacting 51 crore voters. This nationwide drive, starting with training from October 28 and house-to-house checks from November 4, aims to clean up voter lists by removing duplicates, deceased entries, and migrants while adding new eligible voters. Drawing lessons from Bihar's first phase—where over 68 lakh names were deleted—the process has been simplified to avoid overburdening citizens, especially with assembly elections looming in four states next year. Assam is notably excluded for now due to ongoing citizenship verification under the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Key Points

1. The SIR covers 12 states—Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal—and Union Territories including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry, freezing voter lists from midnight October 27, 2025.
2. Influenced by Bihar's Phase-I, the new process skips mandatory documents during initial enumeration; voters only need pre-filled forms, with proofs required later for unverified entries to ease compliance.
3. Timeline includes official training October 28 to November 3, door-to-door verification November 4 to December 4, draft rolls publication on December 9, claims/objections window until January 8, 2026, and final rolls on February 7, 2026—just before key polls.
4. An infographic in The Indian Express highlights nine states and three UTs under focus, with a visual timeline showing draft publication on December 9 and final rolls on February 7, 2026; it emphasizes Bihar-inspired tweaks like flagging inclusions and deferring document checks to the second stage for efficiency.
5. ECI's indicative document list for verification includes Aadhaar (for address, not citizenship), passports, birth certificates, caste certificates, and government-issued IDs, but Aadhaar alone isn't proof of citizenship.
6. Political pushback emerged from West Bengal's Trinamool Congress and Tamil Nadu's DMK, citing timing issues, while Kerala seeks delays amid local polls, but ECI insists it's a constitutional duty with no exemptions.
7. Unlike Bihar, fresh EPIC cards will issue only for updated details, and the process links voters to 2002-2004 rolls or family databases via an all-India system to curb duplicates across states.
8. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will handle 1,000 voters per station on average, with volunteers ensuring no harassment; polling stations capped at 1,200 voters for better management.

Explained

What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls?

The SIR is a comprehensive door-to-door exercise by the Election Commission to update and purify voter lists, ensuring only eligible Indian citizens aged 18+ are included. It addresses issues like deaths, migrations, duplicates, and bogus entries (e.g., foreigners or multiple registrations). Last conducted nationwide in 2002-2004, this Phase-II revives it after 21 years, using digital tools like ECINET for matching old forms. The goal is accurate, inclusive rolls for fair elections, as mandated under the Representation of the People Act, 1950—voter lists must revise before polls or as needed to uphold democracy's foundation.

Why is the SIR Being Launched Now, and What Lessons Come from Bihar's Phase-I?

This timing aligns with upcoming assembly elections in 2026 for states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and poll-bound ones like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, ensuring clean lists to boost turnout and integrity. Bihar's June-July 2025 Phase-I covered 7.9 crore voters, deleting 68 lakh names (mostly duplicates/deceased) and adding 13 lakh new ones, but faced criticism for strict document demands causing low compliance (only 58% forms collected initially).

ECI tweaked Phase-II: no upfront papers, just pre-printed forms linking to prior rolls or family IDs; documents only for mismatches post-draft. This Bihar effect, as visualized in The Indian Express infographic, flags potential inclusions early and defers verifications, reducing harassment while maintaining rigor—projected to cover 51 crore voters efficiently.

Which States and UTs Are Covered, and Why is Assam Excluded?

The 12 regions include Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal (states), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Puducherry (UTs)—home to diverse demographics from urban Uttar Pradesh (over 15 crore voters) to remote Lakshadweep. The infographic clusters nine states visually with three UTs, underscoring focus on poll-hotspots like West Bengal (post-2021 assembly) and Uttar Pradesh (2022 polls due). Assam's exclusion stems from its unique NRC process under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, supervised by the Supreme Court; ECI will issue a separate order later to avoid overlap, highlighting federal sensitivities in citizenship-linked revisions.

How Does the SIR Process Work Step-by-Step?

The process unfolds in phases for transparency: Pre-enumeration (October 28-November 3) trains BLOs, EROs, and parties' agents; Enumeration (November 4-December 4) involves BLOs distributing forms house-to-house, matching against 2002-2004 data or family links via national database. Draft rolls publish December 9, triggering 30-day claims/objections (December 9-January 8); hearings/verifications follow (December 9-January 31) by District Election Officers. Final rolls drop February 7, 2026. Volunteers monitor for fairness, and rationalization caps stations at 1,200 voters—streamlining logistics for 90,000+ stations nationwide.

What Documents Are Needed, and How Does Aadhaar Fit In?

Voters submit simple forms initially; proofs come later for unlinked entries. Acceptable docs include passports, birth/educational certificates, government pensions/IDs, caste/residence certificates, Forest Rights docs, NRC slips (where applicable), or land allotments—proving age, residence, and citizenship. Aadhaar aids address verification per Supreme Court rulings but isn't citizenship proof, avoiding exclusion of marginalized groups. This list, non-exhaustive per ECI, promotes inclusivity, especially for migrants or tribals, differing from Bihar's stricter initial demands.

What Are the Political and Administrative Reactions?

Opposition varies: West Bengal's TMC calls it "vote suppression" amid 2026 polls, demanding postponement; Tamil Nadu's DMK echoes timing concerns; Kerala's parties seek delays for local body elections (notifications pending). ECI counters it's a duty under Article 326, urging state support like manpower. Administratively, Chief Electoral Officers in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh gear up with BLO trainings, while Economic Times notes potential for higher turnout via family linkages, reducing interstate duplicates—a boon for urban migrants.

What Broader Impacts Does This Have on India's Electoral System?

SIR strengthens democracy by curbing "ghost voters" (estimated 2-3 crore nationally), enhancing credibility amid rising litigation (e.g., Bihar's 1 lakh+ objections). It supports digital integration like EPIC linkages to Aadhaar/Voter Helpline, aiding 18-19-year-olds (8 crore added recently). Challenges include rural outreach and privacy concerns, but successes like Bihar's deletions signal healthier polls. Long-term, it aligns with ECI's voter education drives, potentially lifting turnout from 67% (2024 Lok Sabha) toward global benchmarks.

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